444 research outputs found
Detection of mRNA using the BIACORE
We present the detection of native mRNA using the BIACORE system. The influence of different probes and flow rates on the detection is shown and compared to the hybridisation of oligonucleotides. Probes for mRNA detection were chosen by calculations of secondary structures using energy minimizing criteria based on the algorithm of Zuker. Probe concentrations were optimised as well as the regeneration conditions for the sensor surface. The influence of the flow rate appeared to be more marked for mRNA than for oligonucleotide hybridisation
A remarkable recurrent nova in M 31: The predicted 2014 outburst in X-rays with Swift
The M 31 nova M31N 2008-12a was recently found to be a recurrent nova (RN)
with a recurrence time of about 1 year. This is by far the fastest recurrence
time scale of any known RNe. Our optical monitoring programme detected the
predicted 2014 outburst of M31N 2008-12a in early October. We immediately
initiated an X-ray/UV monitoring campaign with Swift to study the
multiwavelength evolution of the outburst. We monitored M31N 2008-12a with
daily Swift observations for 20 days after discovery, covering the entire
supersoft X-ray source (SSS) phase. We detected SSS emission around day six
after outburst. The SSS state lasted for approximately two weeks until about
day 19. M31N 2008-12a was a bright X-ray source with a high blackbody
temperature. The X-ray properties of this outburst were very similar to the
2013 eruption. Combined X-ray spectra show a fast rise and decline of the
effective blackbody temperature. The short-term X-ray light curve showed
strong, aperiodic variability which decreased significantly after about day 14.
Overall, the X-ray properties of M31N 2008-12a are consistent with the average
population properties of M 31 novae. The optical and X-ray light curves can be
scaled uniformly to show similar time scales as those of the Galactic RNe U Sco
or RS Oph. The SSS evolution time scales and effective temperatures are
consistent with a high-mass WD. We predict the next outburst of M31N 2008-12a
to occur in autumn 2015.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables; accepted for publication in A&
A phenomenological model for the X-ray spectrum of Nova V2491 Cygni
The X-ray flux of Nova V2491 Cyg reached a maximum some forty days after
optical maximum. The X-ray spectrum at that time, obtained with the RGS of
XMM-Newton, shows deep, blue-shifted absorption by ions of a wide range of
ionization. We show that the deep absorption lines of the X-ray spectrum at
maximum, and nine days later, are well described by the following
phenomenological model with emission from a central blackbody and from a
collisionally ionized plasma (CIE). The blackbody spectrum (BB) is absorbed by
three main highly-ionized expanding shells; the CIE and BB are absorbed by cold
circumstellar and interstellar matter that includes dust. The outflow density
does not decrease monotonically with distance. The abundances of the shells
indicate that they were ejected from an O-Ne white dwarf. We show that the
variations on time scales of hours in the X-ray spectrum are caused by a
combination of variation in the central source and in the column density of the
ionized shells. Our phenomenological model gives the best description so far of
the supersoft X-ray spectrum of nova V2491 Cyg, but underpredicts, by a large
factor, the optical and ultraviolet flux. The X-ray part of the spectrum must
originate from a very different layer in the expanding envelope, presumably
much closer to the white dwarf than the layers responsible for the
optical/ultraviolet spectrum. This is confirmed by absence of any correlation
between the X-ray and UV/optical observed fluxes.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure
Short-period X-ray oscillations in super-soft novae and persistent SSS
Transient short-period <100s oscillations have been found in the X-ray light
curves of three novae during their SSS phase and in one persistent SSS. We
pursue an observational approach to determine possible driving mechanisms and
relations to fundamental system parameters such as the white dwarf mass.
We performed a systematic search for short-period oscillations in all
available XMM-Newton and Chandra X-ray light curves of persistent SSS and novae
during their SSS phase. To study time evolution, we divided each light curve
into short time segments and computed power spectra. We then constructed
dynamic power spectra from which we identified transient periodic signals even
when only present for a short time. From all time segments of each system, we
computed fractions of time when periodic signals were detected.
In addition to the previously known systems with short-period oscillations,
RS Oph (35s), KT Eri (35s), V339 Del (54s), and Cal 83 (67s), we found one
additional system, LMC 2009a (33s), and also confirm the 35s period from
Chandra data of KT Eri. The amplitudes of oscillations are of order <15% of the
respective count rates and vary without any clear dependence on the X-ray count
rate. The fractions of the time when the respective periods were detected at
2-sigma significance (duty cycle) are 11.3%, 38.8%, 16.9%, 49.2%, and 18.7% for
LMC 2009a, RS Oph, KT Eri, V339 Del, and Cal 83, respectively. The respective
highest duty cycles found in a single observation are 38.1%, 74.5%, 61.4%,
67.8%, and 61.8%.Comment: accepted for publication in A&
A remarkable recurrent nova in M 31: The X-ray observations
Context. Another outburst of the recurrent M 31 nova M31N 2008-12a was announced in late November 2013. Optical data suggest an unprecedentedly short recurrence time of approximately one year.
Aims. In this Letter we address the X-ray properties of M31N 2008-12a.
Methods. We requested Swift monitoring observations shortly after the optical discovery. We estimated source count rates and extracted X-ray spectra from the resulting data. The corresponding ultraviolet (UV) data was also analysed.
Results. M31N 2008-12a was clearly detected as a bright supersoft X-ray source (SSS) only six days after the well-constrained optical discovery. It displayed a short SSS phase of two weeks duration and an exceptionally hot X-ray spectrum with an effective blackbody temperature of ∼ 97 eV. During the SSS phase the X-ray light curve displayed significant variability that might have been
accompanied by spectral variations. The very early X-ray variability was found to be anti-correlated with simultaneous variations in the UV flux.
Conclusions. The X-ray properties of M31N 2008-12a coherently point towards a high-mass white dwarf in the nova system. This object might be a promising Type Ia supernova progenitor. We re-discovered additional X-ray detections of M31N 2008-12a that are consistent with our data and increase the number of known nova outbursts to seven. This nova is an exceptional object that merits further attention in the future
A remarkable recurrent nova in M 31: The optical observations
Context. In late November 2013 a fifth eruption in five years of the M31 recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a was announced.
Aims. In this Letter we address the optical lightcurve and progenitor system of M31N 2008-12a.
Methods. Optical imaging data of the 2013 eruption from the Liverpool Telescope, La Palma, and Danish 1.54m Telescope, La Silla, and archival Hubble Space Telescope near-IR, optical and near-UV data are astrometrically and photometrically analysed.
Results. Photometry of the 2013 eruption, combined with three previous eruptions, enabled construction of a template lightcurve of a very fast nova, t2 (V) ' 4 days. The archival data allowed recovery of the progenitor system in optical and near-UV data, indicating a red-giant secondary with bright accretion disk, or alternatively a system with a sub-giant secondary but dominated by a disk.
Conclusions. The eruptions of M31N 2008-12a, and a number of historic X-ray detections, indicate a unique system with a recurrence timescale of � 1 year. This implies the presence of a very high mass white dwarf and a high accretion rate. The recovered progenitor system is consistent with such an elevated rate of accretion.We encourage additional observations, especially towards the end of 2014
Swift detection of the super-swift switch-on of the super-soft phase in nova V745 Sco (2014)
V745 Sco is a recurrent nova, with the most recent eruption occurring in
February 2014. V745 Sco was first observed by Swift a mere 3.7 hr after the
announcement of the optical discovery, with the super-soft X-ray emission being
detected around four days later and lasting for only ~two days, making it both
the fastest follow-up of a nova by Swift and the earliest switch-on of
super-soft emission yet detected. Such an early switch-on time suggests a
combination of a very high velocity outflow and low ejected mass and, together
with the high effective temperature reached by the super-soft emission, a high
mass white dwarf (>1.3 M_sun). The X-ray spectral evolution was followed from
an early epoch where shocked emission was evident, through the entirety of the
super-soft phase, showing evolving column density, emission lines, absorption
edges and thermal continuum temperature. UV grism data were also obtained
throughout the super-soft interval, with the spectra showing mainly emission
lines from lower ionization transitions and the Balmer continuum in emission.
V745 Sco is compared with both V2491 Cyg (another nova with a very short
super-soft phase) and M31N 2008-12a (the most rapidly recurring nova yet
discovered). The longer recurrence time compared to M31N 2008-12a could be due
to a lower mass accretion rate, although inclination of the system may also
play a part. Nova V745 Sco (2014) revealed the fastest evolving super-soft
source phase yet discovered, providing a detailed and informative dataset for
study.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures (4 in colour), accepted for publication in MNRA
X-Ray Flashes in Recurrent Novae: M31N 2008-12a and the Implications of the Swift Non-detection
Models of nova outbursts suggest that an X-ray flash should occur just after hydrogen ignition. However, this X-ray flash has never been observationally confirmed. We present four theoretical light curves of the X-ray flash for two very massive white dwarfs (WDs) of 1.380 and 1.385 M_sun and for two recurrence periods of 0.5 and 1 years. The duration of the X-ray flash is shorter for a more massive WD and for a longer recurrence period. The shortest duration of 14 hours (0.6 days) among the four cases is obtained for the 1.385 M_sun WD with one year recurrence period. In general, a nova explosion is relatively weak for a very short recurrence period, which results in a rather slow evolution toward the optical peak. This slow timescale and the predictability of very short recurrence period novae give us a chance to observe X-ray flashes of recurrent novae. In this context, we report the first attempt, using the Swift observatory, to detect an X-ray flash of the recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a (0.5 or 1 year recurrence period), which resulted in the non-detection of X-ray emission during the period of 8 days before the optical detection. We discuss the impact of these observations on nova outburst theory. The X-ray flash is one of the last frontiers of nova studies and its detection is essentially important to understand the pre-optical-maximum phase. We encourage further observations
Protein biomarkers in blood reflect the interrelationships between stroke outcome, inflammation, coagulation, adhesion, senescence and cancer
The most important predictors for outcomes after ischemic stroke, that is, for health deterioration and death, are chronological age and stroke severity; gender, genetics and lifestyle/environmental factors also play a role. Of all these, only the latter can be influenced after the event. Recurrent stroke may be prevented by antiaggregant/anticoagulant therapy, angioplasty of high-grade stenoses, and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. Blood cell composition and protein biomarkers such as C-reactive protein or interleukins in serum are frequently considered as biomarkers of outcome. Here we aim to provide an up-to-date protein biomarker signature that allows a maximum of mechanistic understanding, to predict health deterioration following stroke. We thus surveyed protein biomarkers that were reported to be predictive for outcome after ischemic stroke, specifically considering biomarkers that predict long-term outcome (≥ 3 months) and that are measured over the first days following the event. We classified the protein biomarkers as immune‑inflammatory, coagulation-related, and adhesion-related biomarkers. Some of these biomarkers are closely related to cellular senescence and, in particular, to the inflammatory processes that can be triggered by senescent cells. Moreover, the processes that underlie inflammation, hypercoagulation and cellular senescence connect stroke to cancer, and biomarkers of cancer-associated thromboembolism, as well as of sarcopenia, overlap strongly with the biomarkers discussed here. Finally, we demonstrate that most of the outcome-predicting protein biomarkers form a close-meshed functional interaction network, suggesting that the outcome after stroke is partially determined by an interplay of molecular processes relating to inflammation, coagulation, cell adhesion and cellular senescence
Obscuration effects in super-soft-source X-ray spectra
Context. Super-soft-source (SSS) X-ray spectra are blackbody-like spectra with effective temperatures ~3−7 × 105 K and luminosities of 1035−38 erg s-1. Grating spectra of SSS and novae in outburst that show SSS type spectra display atmospheric absorption lines. Radiation transport atmosphere models can be used to derive physical parameters. Blue-shifted absorption lines suggest that hydrostatic equilibrium is an insufficient assumption, and more sophisticated models are required
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